Reepham College is celebrating success three times over after a trio of its students became the first to win places at Cambridge University.

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College director John Randall said the trio would be an inspiration to future generations of students, proving admission to the world’s top universities is within the grasp of children from rural Norfolk villages.

The college, which opened in 2009, had previously sent one student to Oxford University, but Mr Randall said sending three students from a cohort of 80 to Oxbridge was unprecedented.

Hester Fox, who is currently working at the school helping pupils with English and maths during her gap year, received an unconditional offer to study biological and natural sciences at Girton College.

The 18-year-old said: “I think I had to re-read it quite a few times before I believed it.

“I was genuinely expecting a ‘no’ so it was a massive surprise, but I was unbelieveably happy.

Hester added: “My mum screamed in my face. She was trying to prepare me in case it was bad news so she was very happy.

“They were both extremely proud.”

Jessica Cameron-Heffer, who is due to study natural sciences at Downing College, said: “I’m looking forward to learning from the experts and to be able to learn some really high-level science from some world leaders.”

Maria Seago will study medicine at Gonville and Caius College. She said that being able to talk to other people going through the same application and interview process helped all three of them. She added: “I wanted to do something worthwhile and I loved the fact that medicine is really challenging and you have contact with people.”